The world is in the midst of a hunger pandemic according to organisations such as the World Food Program (WFP), affecting nearly 49 million people worldwide. In such a situation the crop damage caused by animals in Sri Lanka can have devastating effects. It is said the damage caused by animals to various crops is over Rs. 18 billion. The Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) recently said that Sri Lanka loses around 40 per cent of its crop production annually.
According to experts, wild boar, monkeys, peacocks, wild elephants and porcupines are considered the worst offenders landing them on top of the agricultural pests list. Monkeys, particularly Torque Macaques have recently become a topic of contention in Sri Lanka after the Government announced its plans to export 100,000 of the species to China.
Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said the allegations levelled by various groups on the plan have no truth and he even welcomed them to present scientific solutions to the issues caused by Torque Macaques relating to crop damage. A committee has now been appointed for the purpose consisting of officials from the Department of Wildlife, the Department of National Zoological Gardens, the Attorney General’s Department and the Ministry of Agriculture. The decision on the proposal will be based on the recommendations of the group.
Meanwhile, Farmers Associations allege that those who oppose the move have not provided them with any feasible solutions to protect their crops from the animals they consider pests. Therefore, they have extended their fullest support to the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out the proposal. With the issues due to Toque Macaques being a reality to those facing them, the Sunday Observer spoke to several experts to elicit their opinions on the matter.
According to Primatologists, though Toque Macaques are often found in forests, loss of habitat due to development and difficulties in securing food has now driven them closer to human habitats. It is noticeable that they are now mostly seen near religious places where they are given food by visiting pilgrims, thus changing the behaviour of these animals. This, according to the President of the Sri Lanka Green Movement Suranjith Kodituwakku has also led to an increase in their population. Therefore Kodituwakku says his organisation is agreeable to the proposal presented by the Ministry.
“Overfeeding of these animals by humans has caused a serious issue, especially in religious places. We must manage food waste first in order to reduce the monkey population. We cannot stop crop damage from these animals if we do not change human attitudes and habits. Farmers have given up their trade due to this and it is a tragic situation. We must find a solution to it. China considered these species as protected. We live in a human-centric world. Culling is a common practice the world over to manage animal populations. We are not suggesting that. If we can reduce food waste we can prevent them from approaching human habitats. A national dialogue on the matter is important,” he said.
Researcher Mathugama Seneviruwan said that farmers could use non-harmful tactics such as sound and the colouring of one monkey in the herd to prevent them from causing damage to crops. Through his observations, Seneviruwan suggested that farmers can grow several trees of cloves as the monkeys seem to prefer their shoots. “They eat the shoots of these trees and leave other crops unharmed,” he said. “We can even create various machines that emit sounds that prevent them from approaching agricultural crops,” he added.
According to Prof Chamali Nahallage of the University of Peradeniya, any proposal must be considered after due consideration about the monkeys and humans. “Torque Macaques are an endemic species. We have three subspecies of it. The largest population is the dry zone Macaques. We must decide which type is to be sent abroad carefully due to issues relating to changes in habitat. We must first conduct a census of the population and also an analysis to decide on the district that suffers the most crop damage. These proposals must be conducted in consideration of these issues,” she said. The professor said she is willing to support the Government to formulate a plan to stop crop damage with the assistance of farmers, villagers and other experts.
Nahallage said proper waste management, clearing of areas around agricultural lands, blocking animal passages, erecting fences, and growing shrubs and trees containing thorns could prevent monkeys from approaching crops. She also suggests the use of dogs, catapults, employing security personnel, lighting crackers, use of air rifles, setting traps and similar methods could be used to stop the monkey menace. She proposed these tactics be used depending on their suitability to the occasion and other factors.
According to Spencer Manuelpillai of the Sri Lanka Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), the claim there is a rise in the monkey population in Sri Lanka is a myth. He said there is no evidence to prove there are three million monkeys in Sri Lanka. The last census was carried out in 1997. According to him, instead of determining the population, it is more important to conduct research into the existing human-monkey conflict. Former President of the Young Zoologists Association (YZA) Hasantha Wijetunge said the removal of monkeys will not help the situation and could even set a wrong example.
The Ministry has now commenced a program to obtain information on crop damage caused by Toque Macaques and urges the public, especially farmers to inform them of the issues by calling 1992. It has welcomed the debate on the topic of sending 100,000 monkeys to China.